Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today introduced legislation to expand to 75 miles the zone in which certain Mexican nationals can travel into New Mexico to shop, conduct business, and/or visit family.

Currently, Mexican nationals holding Border Crossing Cards, also known as Laser Visas, are permitted to travel 25 miles into the United States for a period of 30 days without obtaining additional permits. The initiative was created with the purpose of enhancing the ability of frequent, low-risk visitors to visit border communities and engage in economic activity. While this has had a positive impact on many border cities and towns in other states, in New Mexico the 25-mile limit keeps the state's three largest border cities -- Las Cruces, Lordsburg and Deming -- from receiving the same economic benefits.

In 1999 the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) issued a rule that allowed individuals to travel up to 75 miles into the state of Arizona to visit Tucson. The Senators' legislation, the Southern New Mexico Economic Development Act of 2011, would expand the geographical limit for Border Crossing Cards for Mexican nationals traveling within the State of New Mexico to 75 miles – the same as in Arizona.

"This legislation would encourage lawful border commerce, boosting economic activity in New Mexico border communities hit hard by the economic downturn and in a manner consistent with our border security needs," Bingaman said.

"In these tough economic times, it is critical that we do all we can to help New Mexico businesses in our border communities. Currently, Border Crossing Card holders can travel to cities like El Paso, but not nearby Las Cruces, Deming or Lordsburg. This legislation makes a simple modification to boost commerce in important New Mexico communities with respect to our border security," Udall said.

Bingaman and Udall have also written to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano asking that the Department revise its regulations to extend the geographical zone in New Mexico.

Biometric Border Crossing Cards are only issued to those individuals who have undergone background, fingerprint and security checks.